Will the Detroit Lions Continue to Execute Defensively?

By Luis Vilanova

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions‘ Gunther Cunningham is known for coordinating some of the most successful defenses in the history of the NFL. We saw a glimpse of the team’s enormous potential against the Green Bay Packers, and I am anxious to find out if the Lions will continue to execute defensively during their last regular season games.

Who can forget Louis Delmas blitzing Matt Flynn and converting the sack last Thursday? How about Ndamukong Suh powering into the Packers’ end zone for a safety? I can name a few more defensive plays that stick in my mind, but these two were absolute displays of dominance. In my opinion, Cunningham needs to intensify the approach to the Lions’ defensive game; they looked unstoppable and there is no point in playing it safe to contain all day. Victories against Green Bay and the Cleveland Browns are the only games in which Detroit has been able to win by more than two touchdowns all year; the rest of the wins have been agonizing and by a narrow margin.

The last four games are absolutely winnable games for the Lions, and I hope to see a more aggressive defense. Will Gunther Cunningham adjust the play-calling after watching the Lions deliver seven sacks, one interception and a safety? It will be interesting to see how Detroit disrupts the pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the upcoming game. I was watching the Eagles game last week and couldn’t believe how easily the Arizona Cardinals hurried and sacked Nick Foles. He is undoubtedly going to have an extremely long day against the Lions’ front four, and Detroit shall win at Philadelphia.